Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a circled-letter theme gives everyday clues and playful descriptions a connecting thread. Come on in and let the clear definitions help with the tougher clues.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, offering a mid-size grid that takes a few satisfying minutes to clear. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 9x9
Total Clues: 31 (15 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 15A is the trickiest clue because a swiveling chair suggests several settings, and you need to picture the service being performed.
Gimme Clue: 2D is the gimme because the familiar expression practically completes itself when spoken aloud.
Theme Spotted: "Purple Prose"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Anti-rash powder
Hint: Think of a soft mineral used in skin powder. Four letters, starts with T.
5A. "I need this, like, yesterday!"
Hint: Turn that urgent demand into a familiar abbreviation. Four letters, starts with A.
9A. Mosquito bite symptom
Hint: Focus on the sensation that makes you want to scratch. Four letters, starts with I.
10A. Chemical element one before zirconium, alphabetically
Hint: Use alphabetical order rather than the periodic table's sequence. Four letters, starts with Z.
11A. Zilch
Hint: Try the Spanish equivalent of nothing, also used in English. Four letters, starts with N.
12A. Golf hazard smoothed by a rake
Hint: Picture the sandy hollow beside a fairway or green. Four letters, starts with T.
13A. Singer Carly ___ Jepsen
Hint: Recall the singer's full performing name to complete the blank. Three letters, starts with R.
15A. You might get one when sitting in a chair that swivels
Hint: Picture a barber working behind that chair. Seven letters, starts with H.
19A. "I ___ run!"
Hint: Use a casual spoken expression of necessity. Five letters, starts with G.
20A. Actress Long of "Michael"
Hint: Recall the full name of the actress identified by Long and the film in the clue. Three letters, starts with N.
22A. Purple dishes topped with granola and fruit, as suggested by this puzzle's circled letters
Hint: Think of spoonable berry purée served with crunchy toppings. Nine letters, starts with A.
24A. Fake bait in a tackle box
Hint: A fisher casts this artificial object to tempt a bite. Four letters, starts with L.
25A. Stink
Hint: Read the clue as a verb meaning to smell foul. Four letters, starts with R.
26A. Without changes
Hint: Think of a sale condition that promises no repairs or alterations. Four letters, starts with A.
27A. Does some back-of-the-envelope calculations
Hint: The calculation here combines amounts into a total. Four letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1D. Sturdy sardines container
Hint: Picture a small metal can with a peel-back lid. Three letters, starts with T.
2D. Take it one day ___ time
Hint: Say the reassuring expression aloud and complete its missing phrase. Three letters, starts with A.
3D. Digital screen variety, for short
Hint: Think of the initials for liquid crystal display. Three letters, starts with L.
4D. Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity
Hint: Look for the general term for organizations devoted to helping others through donations and service. Nine letters, starts with C.
5D. Ancient Mexican empire
Hint: Think of the empire centered on Tenochtitlan. Five letters, starts with A.
6D. Courteous title
Hint: Use a respectful form of address for a man. Three letters, starts with S.
7D. "Saturday Night Live" alum Gasteyer
Hint: Recall the full name of the comedy performer identified by Gasteyer. Three letters, starts with A.
8D. Doctor seen for routine physicals, for short
Hint: Abbreviate the physician who serves as your regular contact for general medical care. Three letters, starts with P.
14D. Many an Algerian
Hint: The clue seeks an ethnic identity rather than a nationality. Four letters, starts with A.
15D. ___-pocus
Hint: Complete the rhyming expression associated with a magician's spell. Five letters, starts with H.
16D. Company that helped kick-start the popularity of video games
Hint: Think of the company behind Pong. Five letters, starts with A.
17D. Not married
Hint: Use an adjective describing someone without a spouse. Five letters, starts with U.
18D. Like many backsplashes and showers
Hint: Picture a surface covered with ceramic pieces and grout. Five letters, starts with T.
19D. Fancy party
Hint: Think of an elegant celebration with formal dress. Four letters, starts with G.
21D. Requests
Hint: Read this as a verb meaning makes a request. Four letters, starts with A.
23D. Pop singer Rita
Hint: Recall the full performing name of the pop singer identified by Rita. Three letters, starts with O.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Anti-rash powder
Answer: TALC
5A. "I need this, like, yesterday!"
Answer: ASAP
9A. Mosquito bite symptom
Answer: ITCH
10A. Chemical element one before zirconium, alphabetically
Answer: ZINC
11A. Zilch
Answer: NADA
12A. Golf hazard smoothed by a rake
Answer: TRAP
13A. Singer Carly ___ Jepsen
Answer: RAE
15A. You might get one when sitting in a chair that swivels
Answer: HAIRCUT
19A. "I ___ run!"
Answer: GOTTA
20A. Actress Long of "Michael"
Answer: NIA
22A. Purple dishes topped with granola and fruit, as suggested by this puzzle's circled letters
Answer: ACAIBOWLS
24A. Fake bait in a tackle box
Answer: LURE
25A. Stink
Answer: REEK
26A. Without changes
Answer: ASIS
27A. Does some back-of-the-envelope calculations
Answer: ADDS
Down Answers
1D. Sturdy sardines container
Answer: TIN
2D. Take it one day ___ time
Answer: ATA
3D. Digital screen variety, for short
Answer: LCD
4D. Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity
Answer: CHARITIES
5D. Ancient Mexican empire
Answer: AZTEC
6D. Courteous title
Answer: SIR
7D. "Saturday Night Live" alum Gasteyer
Answer: ANA
8D. Doctor seen for routine physicals, for short
Answer: PCP
14D. Many an Algerian
Answer: ARAB
15D. ___-pocus
Answer: HOCUS
16D. Company that helped kick-start the popularity of video games
Answer: ATARI
17D. Not married
Answer: UNWED
18D. Like many backsplashes and showers
Answer: TILED
19D. Fancy party
Answer: GALA
21D. Requests
Answer: ASKS
23D. Pop singer Rita
Answer: ORA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 22A, the purple dishes topped with granola and fruit, yields ACAIBOWLS and explicitly connects the food description to the circled letters. That extra instruction makes it the grid's defining clue, giving the surrounding fill a thematic purpose.
Wordplay Winner: 15A wins with HAIRCUT. The swiveling chair invites you to think about the furniture, while the answer names the service you receive in it.
Quick Fill: 2D, ATA, is the fastest confident fill because the phrase completes itself naturally. It supplies crossing letters for TALC at 1A, ITCH at 9A, and NADA at 11A, giving the upper-left corner a useful foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Fill familiar phrase completions before wrestling with indirect descriptions. ATA at 2D and HOCUS at 15D offer firmer starting points than the swiveling-chair clue for HAIRCUT.
Follow the instruction precisely when a clue supplies an ordering rule. ZINC at 10A comes before zirconium alphabetically, so searching by atomic number sends you down the wrong path.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct definitions give this grid a welcoming rhythm, while HAIRCUT provides a satisfying change of perspective. The circled-letter connection gives ACAIBOWLS a role beyond its breakfast description.
See you at the next grid.
